From the book
A Chymical Dictionary
Gerhard Dorn and John French · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordA Paracelsian compound defined here through gold, coral and pearl.
- In the bookOpopopyron Laudani is another named medicine attributed to Paracelsus, defined through stopping fevers.
- A place to readThe historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 29; facsimile PDF page 357.
Historical definition
Laudanum is a compound medicine made by Paracelsus from gold, coral, pearl and other things.
Meaning
The ingredients and attribution supplied by this dictionary should govern the first reading of Laudanum. It is explicitly a compound, and the list is not exhaustive: the historical et cetera is preserved as other things. No proportions or method accompany the list.
Use in the book
Opopopyron Laudani is another named medicine attributed to Paracelsus, defined through stopping fevers. The shared name-element invites comparison, but does not establish that the two entries describe an identical compound.
Places to read
- LaudanumRead the complete historical definition and its commentary.
- Opopopyron LaudaniA medicine attributed to Paracelsus and defined by its use against fever.
In this edition
A later familiar use of laudanum must not replace this stated composition. The entry’s gold, coral and pearl are part of its meaning, even though they do not amount to a complete recipe.
Source note
Historical source. 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 29; facsimile PDF page 357 — Facsimile
Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 357, Laudanum